- Start with one sentence: what this meeting must decide or produce.
- List items as questions, with an owner and a time box.
- Send it at least a day ahead with anything people must read.
- Reuse the agenda headings as your notes skeleton.
The template
[Meeting] · [date] · [time] · [length] Goal: by the end we will have decided / produced … 1. [Question to answer] Owner · 10 min 2. [Question to answer] Owner · 15 min 3. Actions and owners Chair · 5 min Read before: [links]
Write items as questions
"Pricing" invites a tour of opinions. "Do we keep the annual price for pilot customers?" invites a decision. Questions also tell the note-taker exactly what to write down: the answer.
Examples
Weekly team meeting: wins and blockers (10 min), one decision that needs the group (20 min), actions (5 min).
Client call: their goals for this call (5 min), update from us (10 min), open questions (10 min), agreed next step (5 min).
One-on-one: their topics first, then yours, then feedback, then actions. See the one-on-one template.
From agenda to notes
Copy the agenda into your notes and leave space under each item for Decided, Actions and Open. You'll arrive with your notes half-built. More in how to take meeting notes.
Questions people ask
What should be on a meeting agenda?
How far in advance should I send an agenda?
What is the difference between an agenda and minutes?
About Shin. We’re building something for people whose work happens in conversation. Private beta, by invitation.
Request access →